Iontophoretic preparation for treatment of breast cancer and/or mastitis

ABSTRACT

The present invention is to provide means to treat breast cancer and/or mastitis by topically administering a non-steroidal antiinflammatory analgetic agent and/or an anticancer agent and allowing them efficiently to arrive into the mammary gland. The present invention provides an iontophoretic preparation for treating breast cancer and/or mastitis which contains a non-steroidal antiinflammatory analgetic agent and/or an anticancer agent as an active ingredient and has a donor to be applied on a nipple part for topical administration of the active ingredient from the nipple part to the mammary gland by application of electric potential.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a 371 application of PCT/JP2006/320320 filed Oct.11, 2006 and claims the benefit of JP 2005-297565 filed Oct. 12, 2005.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an iontophoretic preparation for thetreatment of breast cancer and/or mastitis.

BACKGROUND ART

Breast cancer is a cancer which occurs in mammary gland tissues and isclassified into lobular carcinoma arising from acinus and breast ductalcarcinoma arising from breast ducts. The state of cancer limited withinlobules or breast ducts and not disseminating to surrounding tissue iscalled noninfiltrating cancer whereas the state in which cancer cellsproliferating in breast ducts destroy basement membrane and developmetastasis to the neighboring tissues is called infiltrating cancer. Asa treatment method for breast cancer, adjuvant chemotherapy is common,in which an anticancer agent is administered by instillation aftersurgery operation for excising affected parts or without surgeryoperation. However, many of anticancer agents have problems that theymay cause side effects such as nausea, loss of appetite and alopeciawhen administered by instillation.

Meanwhile, it has been reported that activities of cyclooxygenase-1(COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) increase upon the development ofbreast cancer (Non-patent Documents 1 to 5). Furthermore, it is knownthat non-steroidal antiinflammatory analgetic agents are effective forinhibiting COX-1 and COX-2.

Mastitis is classified into stagnation mastitis and acute suppurativemastitis. Stagnation mastitis develops just after the puerperium in thestate that milk stagnates within breast ducts. On the other hand, acutesuppurative mastitis develops by infection of bacteria such asstaphylococcus, Escherichia coli and streptococcus. Of these, treatmentwith an antiinflammatory analgetic agent is performed for acutesuppurative mastitis (Non-patent Document 6).

However, there has been a problem that non-steroidal antiinflammatoryanalgetic and/or anticancer agents cannot be administered topicallysince breast cancer and mastitis occur or develop within the breast.

As attempts to treat breast diseases such as breast cancer by topicaladministration of a medicinal agent, methods of percutaneouslyadministering adriamycin, danazol or progesterone to the breast havebeen reported (Non-patent Document 7, 8 and Patent Document 1).

[Patent Document 1] WO2004/060322 (Description) [Non-patent Document 1]Igaku no Ayumi (Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine), 204 (1),10-19, 2003

-   [Non-patent Document 2] Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 90    (21), 1609-1620, 1998-   [Non-patent Document 3] Journal of Cellular Physiology, 190,    279-286, 2002-   [Non-patent Document 4] Annual Reviews Medicine, 53, 35-57, 2002-   [Non-patent Document 5] Carcinogenesis, 23(2), 245-256, 2002-   [Non-patent Document 6] Shusanki Igaku (Perinatal Medicine), 34 (9),    1443-1445, 2004-   [Non-patent Document 7] Yokohama Igaku (Journal of Yokohama Medical    Association), 44, 487-494, 1993-   [Non-patent Document 8] Dermatology and Venereology, V(2), 65, 1951

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

When non-steroidal antiinflammatory analgetic agents and/or anticanceragents were administered by conventional topical administration means,their delivery rate to the location of breast cancer or affected partsof mastitis is extremely low and accordingly, such an approach has notcome into practical use.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide means totreat breast cancer and/or mastitis by topically administering anon-steroidal antiinflammatory analgetic agent and/or an anticanceragent and allowing them efficiently to arrive into the mammary gland.

Means for Solving the problems

The present inventors have directed attention to iontophoresis known asan enhancing method of percutaneous absorption and conducted studiesthereon, and consequently, have found that when a donor of aniontophoretic preparation which contains a non-steroidalantiinflammatory analgetic agent and/or an anticancer agent is appliedon a nipple part and to which electric potential is applied, thedelivery rate of these active ingredients to the mammary gland isdrastically enhanced as compared with a case in which the donor isapplied on normal skin such as breast parts and electric potential isapplied, and therefore such an approach is useful as a method to treatbreast cancer and/or mastitis by topical administration. Thus, thepresent invention has been accomplished on the basis of this finding.

That is, the present invention provides an iontophoretic preparation fortreating breast cancer and/or mastitis which contains a non-steroidalantiinflammatory analgetic agent and/or an anticancer agent as an activeingredient and has a donor to be applied on a nipple part for topicaladministration of the active ingredient from the nipple part to themammary gland by application of electric potential.

In addition, the present invention also provides an iontophoretictherapeutic method comprising applying a donor which contains anon-steroidal antiinflammatory analgetic agent and/or an anticanceragent as an active ingredient on a nipple part and topicallyadministrating the active ingredient from the nipple to the mammarygland by application of electric potential.

Further, the present invention provides use of a non-steroidalantiinflammatory analgetic agent and/or an anticancer agent for theproduction of an iontophoretic preparation for treating breast cancerand/or mastitis which contains a donor to be applied on a nipple partfor topical administration of the active ingredient from the nipple tothe mammary gland by application of electric potential.

Effects of the Invention

The present invention enables non-steroidal antiinflammatory analgeticagents and/or anticancer agents which are active ingredients to bespecifically absorbed in the mammary gland, and accordingly, treatmentof breast cancer and/or mastitis becomes possible with lower doses thanconventional methods, thereby reducing side effects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view illustrating an iontophoreticpreparation for breast cancer and/or mastitis treatment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of the shape of the donor and the receptorof an iontophoretic preparation for breast cancer and/or mastitistreatment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the shape of the donor and the receptorof an iontophoretic preparation for breast cancer and/or mastitistreatment of the present invention

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS

-   1 Support-   2 Electrode-   3 Pad-   4 Liner

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With the iontophoretic preparation for breast cancer and/or mastitistreatment of the present invention, a donor is applied to a nipple partand an active ingredient is topically administrated from the nipple partinto the mammary gland by application of electric potential. It has beenutterly unexpected that permeability is enhanced remarkably inadministration from the nipple part by application of electric potentialas compared with administration from normal skin such as breasts.

Examples of the non-steroidal antiinflammatory analgetic agent which isthe active ingredient of the therapeutic agent for breast cancer and/ormastitis of the present invention include indomethacin, acemetacin,salicylic acid, sodium salicylate, aspirin, acetaminophen, diclofenacsodium, anfenac sodium, ibuprofen, sulindac, naproxen, ketoprofen,flufenamic acid, ibufenac, fenbufen, alclofenac, phenylbutazone,mefenamic acid, benzadac, piroxicam, flurbiprofen, pentazocine,buprenorphine hydrochloride, butorphanol tartrate, celecoxib, rofecoxib,valdecoxib, etoricoxib, Lumiracoxib, parecoxib Na, etodolac, NS-398 andmeloxicam. Of these, indomethacin and celecoxib are preferable at apoint of absorption efficiency from the nipple part to the mammarygland, and indomethacin is particularly preferable.

Examples of the anticancer agent include alkylating agents such asifosfamide and cyclophosphamide; platinum compounds such as carboplatin,cisplatin, nedaplatin and oxaliplatin; vegetable anticancer agents suchas irinotecan hydrochloride, etoposide, docetaxel hydrate, vincristinesulfate, vinblastine sulfate, paclitaxel and vinorelbine ditartrate;hormones such as tamoxifen citrate, fadrozole hydrochloride hydrate,flutamide and medroxyprogesterone acetate; anticancerous antibioticssuch as doxorubicin hydrochloride, idarubicin hydrochloride, zinostatinstimalamer, daunorubicin hydrochloride, bleomycin hydrochloride,epirubicin hydrochloride, mitoxantrone hydrochloride, pirarubicinhydrochloride and mitomycin C; antimetabolites such as carmofur,cytarabine, doxifluridine, hydroxycarbamide, methotrexate,mercaptopurine, gemcitabine hydrochloride, fluorouracil andcapecitabine; linear surfactin having a lactone type cyclohepta peptidestructure and monoclonal antibodies such as trastuzumab. Of these,alkylating agents such as cyclophosphamide and antimetabolites such asfluorouracil are preferable at a point of absorption efficiency from thenipple part to the mammary gland, and cyclophosphamide and fluorouracil(in particular, 5-FU) are particularly preferable.

When the donor of the iontophoretic preparation of the present inventoris applied on the nipple part and an active ingredient is topicallyadministered from the nipple part to the mammary gland by application ofelectric potential, migration of an anticancer agent and a non-steroidalantiinflammatory agent from the nipple part to the mammary gland isdrastically enhanced as compared with application of electric potentialon the normal skin, as demonstrated in the after-mentioned Examples,although the degree of migration properties are different depending uponthe kind of drugs. The transfer properties are particularly remarkablein indomethacin, cyclophosphamide and fluorouracil.

An iontophoretic preparation usually consists of a donor and a receptor,but as for the iontophoretic preparation of the present invention forbreast cancer and/or mastitis treatment, at least the donor is appliedon the nipple part. The donor may have an electrode and a pad containingthe aforementioned active ingredient, and the pad containing the activeingredient may contain an electrolyte. The iontophoretic preparationgenerally consists of a power supply, an anode (an electrode and a pad)and a cathode (an electrode and a pad). Examples of the shape ofelectrodes include a pairing structure in which the anode and thecathode make an opposing pair; and a surrounding structure in which theanode and/or the cathode is located inside while the cathode and/or theanode is located outside (Biological Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 26(4),518-522, 2003). Here, in an anionic drug, the cathode is used as adonor, and in a cationic drug, the anode is used as a donor, and as fora nonionic drug, the anode is used as a donor using a principle ofelectroosmosis (Biological Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 24, 278-283, 2001;Biological Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 24, 671-677, 2001; andPharmaceutical Research, 18, 1701-1708, 2001).

Firstly, the donor is described. The donor basically consists of asupport 1, an electrode 2, a pad 3 containing an active ingredient and aliner 4 as illustrated in FIG. 1. Examples of the support includecotton, polyester, rayon, nylon, polyolefin, polyethylene, vinylon,acetate, polypropylene and polyurethane. Examples of the electrodeinclude aluminum (including aluminum oxide), stainless steel, gold,silver, silver chloride, platinum and platinum black. The pad containingan active ingredient contains an active ingredient, a solvent, anadhesive base material and may optionally contain an electrolyte asrequired. Examples of the liner include plastic liners such aspolyethylene and polypropylene, cellulosic liners and one having asilicone release agent coated on the surface of the above liner and apaper sheet.

Examples of the solvent constituting the pad of the present inventioninclude water; polyhydric alcohols such as ethyleneglycol, diethyleneglycol, triethylene glycol, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethyleneglycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, polyethyleneglycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol,dipropylene glycol polyethylene glycol, 2-ethyl-1,3-hexane diol,polypropylene glycol 2000, polypropylene glycol, (concentrated)glycerin, batyl alcohol, pentaerythritol and D-sorbitol liquid; alcoholssuch as ethanol, isopropanol, benzyl alcohol, lauryl alcohol, cetanol,stearyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol and lanolin alcohol; diisopropyl adipate,triacetin, diisopropyl sebacate, triisooctane acid and esters such astriglycerides of medium chain fatty acids having 6 to 12 carbon atoms;ketones such as crotamiton and one kind of these or two or more kinds ofthese in combination can be used.

Examples of the adhesive base material constituting the pad of thepresent invention include water-soluble adhesive base materials such aspolyacrylic acid, sodium polyacrylate, partially neutralized polyacrylicacid and N-vinyl acetamide-acrylic acid co-polymers, and hydrophobicadhesive base materials such as ester gums, alicyclic saturatedhydrocarbon resins, aliphatic hydrocarbon resins, polybutene and rosin.One kind of these or two or more kinds of these in combination can beused.

Sodium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium bromide, potassium bromide,calcium chloride, calcium bromide and the like may be used as anelectrolyte constituting the pad of the present invention.

Base materials, thickening agents, preservatives, pH adjusters, oilingredients, flavoring agents, stabilizers, surfactants, curing agentsand chemical enhancers can be also added to the pad.

Examples of the base material include sodium alginate, ethyl cellulose,carrageenan, carmellose sodium, agar, xanthan gum, gelatine, kaolin,bentonite, montmorillonite, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, silicicanhydride, D-sorbitol, talc, terpene resins, hydroxypropylcellulose andhydroxypropylmethylcellulose.

Examples of the thickening agent include carboxyvinyl polymer, urea,polyvinyl alcohol and sodium metaphosphate.

Examples of the preservative include phenolic substances such as methylparahydroxybenzoate, phenol and cresol, neutral substances such aschlorobutanol and phenylethyl alcohol, invert soaps such as benzalkoniumchloride and benzethonium chloride, and acidic substances such asbenzoic acid, sorbic acid, dehydro acid and salicylic acid.

Examples of the pH adjuster include citric acid, sodium citrate,hydrochloric acid, glycine, succinic acid, acetic acid,diisopropanolamine, tartaric acid, potassium hydroxide, sodiumhydroxide, lactic acid, boric acid, malic acid and phosphoric acid.

Examples of the oil ingredient include olive oil, camellia oil, castoroil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, sasanqua oil, soybean oil, cottonseedoil, sesame oil, coconut oil, palm oil and clove oil.

Examples of the flavoring agent include fennel oil, cinnamon oil, cloveoil and peppermint oil.

Examples of the stabilizer include anti-oxidants such as vitamin E andbutylhydroxyanisol, reducing agents such as ascorbic acid, sodiumhydrogensulfite and sodium thiosulfate, and synergistic agents such assodium citrate, sodium tartrate, lecithin and EDTA.

Examples of the surfactant include anionic surfactants such as calciumstearate, magnesium stearate and sodium lauryl sulfate, cationicsurfactants such as benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride andcetylpyridinium chloride, nonionic surfactants such as glycerylmonostearate, sugar fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene hydrogenatedcastor oil and polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters.

Examples of the curing agent include dried aluminum hydroxide gel,aluminum magnesium hydroxide, magnesium aluminosilicate, magnesiumaluminometasilicate, synthetic hydrotalcite and dihydroxyaluminumaminoacetate.

Examples of the chemical enhancers include nonionic surfactants such asmonostearic acid glyceryl and sugar fatty acid esters, water-solublepolymer compounds such as carboxylic acids, aromatic carboxylic acidcompounds such as salicylic acid and the derivatives thereof, aliphaticcarboxylic acid compounds such as capric acid and oleic acid, terpenessuch as L-menthol, esters such as isopropyl myristate and diethylsebacate, bile salt, hydrogenated lanoline and azone.

The content of the active ingredient in the pad is preferably 0.01 to 20mass %, more preferably 0.1 to 10 mass % from a point of migration ofthe active ingredient from the nipple to the mammary gland.

In the meantime, the receptor of the iontophoretic preparation forbreast cancer and/or mastitis treatment of the present invention isbasically constituted of a support 1, an electrode 2, a pad 3 and aliner 4 as shown in FIG. 1 as well. The support, the electrode and theliner are made of materials similar to those of a donor, and the paddoes not contain an active ingredient but contains an electrolyte.

Furthermore, the preparation may form a surrounding structure in which apower supply, a donor and a receptor are incorporated as in WO98/35722,or may form a pair structure in which a power supply, a donor and areceptor are separated.

It is preferable in present invention to apply a donor to the nipplepart and place a receptor on the breast part at a point of allowing anon-steroidal antiinflammatory analgetic agent and/or an anticanceragent to selectively and efficiently migrate from the nipple to themammary gland. In this case, it is preferable that the donor is a donorhaving a size to cover up the whole nipple part. On the other hand, itis preferable that the receptor is a receptor having a size to wrap upat least the affected area of the breast. The shape of the donor is notlimited, but a circle or an oval form is preferable in that it may coverthe nipple, and the shape of the receptor is preferably a circle, anoval form, a disk or an oval disk in that it may cover at least theaffected area of the breast (FIGS. 2 and 3). The receptor particularlypreferably has a shape which covers up the whole breast except thenipple part, for example, forms like a disk or an oval disk (FIG. 3).

The iontophoretic preparation for breast cancer and/or mastitistreatment of the present invention has an electrode and a pad containingan active ingredient as a donor and has an electrode and a padcontaining an electrolyte as a receptor, and when the active ingredientis an anionic drug such as indomethacin, for example, an electronic flowfrom the donor (cathode) to the receptor (anode) occurs by applying thedonor onto the nipple part and the receptor onto the breast part andapplying an electric potential and this flow allows indomethacin in thedonor to absorb into the mammary gland. In the case of a nonionic drugsuch as carmofur or fluorouracil, the drug is absorbed into the mammarygland through an aquatic flow associated with the transfer of the othercations from the donor (anode) to the receptor (cathode).

EXAMPLES

Hereinbelow, the present invention will next be described in more detailby way of examples, but the present invention is not limited to theseexamples by any means.

Example 1

A permeation experiment (in vitro) through a skin excised from a beagleby iontophoresis was performed using a indomethacin-containing solution.

As for the excised skin, the abdominal skin of a beagle (male, 3-yearold) was subjected to dehairing treatment and then a skin areacontaining a nipple and a skin area not containing a nipple were excisedand used. Idomethine Kowa Sol (produced by Kowa Co., Ltd., lot numberQF45) was used as a donor solution just as it was. A mixed solvent ofmacrogol 400 and saline (mass mixing rate; macrogol 400/normal salinesolution=6:4) was used as a receptor solution. Two kinds of the excisedskin were attached on Franz cells with the surface thereof on the donorside and the cells were filled with 1 mL of the donor solution and 19 mLof the receptor solution. A silver chloride electrode was inserted inthe donor (cathode) side whereas a silver electrode was inserted in thereceptor (anode) side so that they might be sufficient contact with theliquid and an electric potential at 0 or 3V was applied by a DC voltagecurrent generator for 100 minutes. When 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 minutespassed after the start of the application of electric potential, 1 mL ofthe receptor liquid was sampled from a sampling port of the receptorside and 1 mL of a new receptor liquid was supplemented. Theindomethacin concentration in the sampled receptor liquid was measuredby HPLC method. Here, since the skin including the nipple (0.196 cm²)included the skin (0.589 cm²) other than the nipple, the permeatedamount was corrected based on the whole permeation area (0.785 cm²) toindicate a value only through the nipple part.

The time change course of the accumulated permeated amount ofindomethacin and the increase rate after 100 minutes are shown inTable 1. The permeability of indomethacin through normal skin increasedonly by about 2 times when electric potential was applied at 3V whereasthe permeability of indomethacin from the nipple increased by about 10times than that through normal skin without application of electricpotential and by about 17 times when electric potential was applied at3V.

TABLE 1 Table for permeated amount (μg/cm²) of indomethacin and increaserate thereof Increase rate of permeated amount after 100 minutes withrespect to Time (min) normal skin without application of Skin Condition20 40 60 80 100 electric potential Normal No application 0.33 0.45 0.771.27 1.37 skin of electric potential Application of 0.57 0.78 1.38 2.032.52 1.84 electric potential Nipple No application ND ND 2.91 8.69 13.9510.18 skin of electric potential Application of 2.85 7.27 9.07 10.4223.65 17.26 electric potential

Example 2

A permeation experiment (in vitro) through a skin excised from a beagleby iontophoresis was performed using a cyclophosphamide-containingsolution.

As for the excised skin, the skin on the abdomen of a beagle (male,3-year old) was subjected to dehairing treatment and then a skin areacontaining a nipple and a skin area not containing a nipple were excisedand used. A buffer solution containing 25 mM cyclophosphamide (25 mMHEPES buffer containing 133 mM NaCl, pH 3) was used as a donor solution.A 25 mM HEPES buffer containing 133 mM NaCl (pH 3) was used as areceptor solution.

Two kinds of the excised skin were attached on Franz cells with thesurface thereof on the donor side and the cells were filled with 3 mL ofthe donor solution and 31 mL of the receptor solution. Aluminum foil wasattached to donor (anode) side and receptor (cathode) side electrodesand the electrodes were inserted so that they might be sufficientcontact with the liquid and an electric potential at 0 or 0.1 mA/cm² wasapplied by a DC voltage current generator for 180 minutes. When 30, 60,90, 120, 150 and 180 minutes passed after the start of the applicationof electric potential, 1 mL of the receptor liquid was sampled from asampling orifice of the receptor side and 1 mL of a new receptor liquidwas supplemented. The cyclophosphamide concentration in the sampledreceptor liquid was measured by HPLC method. Here, since the skinincluding the nipple (0.629 cm²) included the skin (2.511 cm²) otherthan the nipple, permeated amount was corrected based on the wholepermeation area (3.14 cm²) to indicate a value only through the nipplepart.

The time change course of the accumulated permeated amount ofcyclophosphamide and the increase rate after 180 minutes are shown inTable 2. The permeability of cyclophosphamide through normal skin hardlychanged even when an electric potential was applied (at 0.1 mA/cm²) andthe permeability of cyclophosphamide from the nipple was not enhanced ascompared with the permeability through normal skin. Nevertheless, thepermeability from the nipple when an electric potential (at 0.1 mA/cm²)increased by about 7.1 times as compared with the permeability throughnormal skin without application of electric potential.

TABLE 2 Table for permeated amount (μg/cm²) of cyclophosphamide andincrease rate thereof Increase rate of permeated amount after 180minutes with respect to Time (min) normal skin without application ofSkin Condition 0 30 60 90 120 150 180 electric potential Normal Noapplication of 0.0 13.3 14.4 15.0 15.5 17.2 17.4 skin electric potentialApplication of 0.0 13.4 13.9 13.7 16.2 16.3 16.2 0.9 electric potentialNipple No application of 0.0 24.9 2.0 6.9 20.2 1.4 6.9 0.4 skin electricpotential Application of 0.0 34.3 123.2 125.3 121.4 120.4 123.1 7.1electric potential

Example 3

A permeation experiment (in vitro) through a skin excised from a beagleby iontophoresis was performed using a 5-fluorouracil-containingsolution.

As for the excised skin, the skin on the abdomen of a beagle (male,3-year old) was subjected to dehairing treatment and then a skin areacontaining a nipple and a skin area not containing a nipple were excisedand used. A buffer solution containing 1% 5-fluorouracil (25 mM HEPESbuffer containing 133 mM NaCl, pH 8.5) was used as a donor solution. Anormal saline solution was used as a receptor solution.

Two kinds of the excised skin were attached on Franz cells with thesurface thereof on the donor side and the cells were filled with 1 mL ofthe donor solution and 19 mL of the receptor solution. Aluminum foil wasattached to donor (cathode) side and receptor (anode) side electrodesand the electrodes were inserted so that they might be sufficientcontact with the liquid and an electric potential at 0 or 3 V wasapplied by a DC voltage current generator for 360 minutes. When 60, 120,180, 240, 300 and 360 minutes passed after the start of the applicationof electric potential, 1 mL of the receptor liquid was sampled from asampling orifice of the receptor side and 1 mL of a new receptor liquidwas supplemented. The 5-fluorouracil concentration in the sampledreceptor liquid was measured by HPLC method. Here, since the skinincluding the nipple (0.385 cm²) included the skin (0.4 cm²) other thanthe nipple, permeated amount was corrected based on the whole permeationarea (0.785 cm²) to indicate a value only through the nipple part.

TABLE 3 Table for permeated amount (μg/cm²) of 5-fluorouracil andincrease rate thereof Increase rate of permeated amount after 360minutes with respect to Time (min) normal skin without application ofSkin Condition 60 120 180 240 300 360 electric potential Normal Noapplication of 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 skin electric potentialApplication of 1.3 11.7 44.4 121.5 264.9 480.3 3430.7 electric potentialNipple No application of 0.0 0.2 0.7 1.6 3.0 5.6 39.7 skin electricpotential Application of 17.6 151.7 383.3 676.3 1032.3 1391.3 9937.8electric potential

The time change course of the accumulated permeated amount of5-fluorouracil and the increase rate after 360 minutes are shown inTable 3. The permeability of 5-fluorouracil through normal skinincreased by about 3000 times when an electric potential was applied (at3V) and the permeability of 5-fluorouracil from the nipple increased byabout 40 times compared with the permeability without application ofelectric potential, and increased by about 10000 times than that throughnormal skin when electric potential applied (at 3V).

Example 4

One (1) g of polyvinyl alcohol (partially saponified substance) wasadded to 40 g of a normal saline solution, heated to 50° C. anddissolved. After cooling to room temperature, 0.1 g of sodium edetateand 1.3 g of tartaric acid were added and dissolved, and then 20 g ofconcentrated glycerin was added (aqueous phase). Separately, 3.5 g ofcarmellose sodium, 5 g of partially neutralized polyacrylic acid(NP-700), 5 g of partially neutralized polyacrylic acid (NP-800) and 0.2g of dihydroxy aluminum acetate were added to 20 g of macrogol 400, anduniformly suspended (oily phase). The oily phase was added to theaqueous phase and, furthermore, a normal saline solution was addedthereto to adjust the total amount to 100 g. This mixture was uniformlykneaded with a kneader and extended with an extender to a thickness of 1mm and thus pads of the composition of Table 4 were prepared.

TABLE 4 Ingredient Content (g) Polyvinyl alcohol (partially saponifiedsubstance) 1 Sodium edetate 0.1 Concentrated glycerin 20 Carmellosesodium 3.5 Partially neutralized polyacrylic acid (NP-700) 5 Partiallyneutralized polyacrylic acid (NP-800) 5 Tartaric acid 1.3 Dihydroxyaluminum acetate 0.2 Macrogol 400 20 Normal saline solution Appropriateamount Total 100

One (1) g of indomethacin was dissolved in the oily phase of Table 4 toprepare a pad containing indomethacin. An aluminum electrode wasattached to the pad and a donor having a circular form shown in FIG. 3was prepared. In the meantime, an aluminum electrode was attached to apad (not containing indomethacin) of Table 4 to obtain a receptor havinga shape of FIG. 3.

1. An iontophoretic therapy for treating breast cancer and/or mastitis,wherein the therapy comprises applying a donor which contains ananticancer agent as an active ingredient on a nipple part and topicallyadministering the active ingredient from the nipple part into a mammarygland by applying electric potential.
 2. The therapy according to claim1, wherein the anticancer agent is cyclophosphamide or fluorouracil. 3.The therapy according to claim 1, wherein the donor comprises anelectrode and a pad containing the active ingredient.
 4. The therapyaccording to claim 1, wherein the therapy comprises applying a receptoron the breast part.
 5. The therapy according to claim 3, wherein thetherapy comprises applying the donor on the nipple part and applying thereceptor on the breast part and the donor has a size to cover the nippleand the receptor has a size to cover at least an affected part of thebreast.
 6. The therapy according to claim 5, wherein the receptor is ina form of a disk or an oval disk which covers up the whole breast exceptthe nipple part.
 7. The therapy according to claim 4, wherein thetherapy comprises applying the donor on the nipple part and applying thereceptor on the breast part and the donor has a size to cover the nippleand the receptor has a size to cover at least an affected part of thebreast.
 8. The therapy according to claim 2, wherein the donor comprisesan electrode and a pad containing the active ingredient.
 9. The therapyaccording to claim 2, wherein the therapy comprises applying a receptoron the breast part.
 10. The therapy according to claim 3, wherein thetherapy comprises applying a receptor on the breast part.